Planetary rotary cutting mechanism



y 1950 w. B. HAYS 2,506,215

PLANETARY ROTARY CUTTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

. glvwomm ,0 WlLl-IAM B HAYS,

VKZ wm May 2, 1950 w. B. HAYS PLANETARY ROTARY CUTTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20; 1945 i awe/14M WILLIAM a HAYS,

22M; a; w

Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES" ATENT OFFICE :asoazis '1 rnma'ranrnoranrcormcnacnsmsm wmiam n. Hays, Norman, tern. Application nnvemberzo, 1945, Serial Np. 29,889

This invention relates to .cutting machines,

and more particularly ;to rotary cutting machines of thetype wherein the rotary cutting element moves in a planetary path relation to the shaft of its driving element.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved cutting machine of the planetary type adapted to be employed for p viding a circular cutting action to cut and remile-material from large surface areas with a miz-iimum amount of power.

further-object of the invention is tomovide an improved planetary rotary .cutting .machine having a. small rotary cutter rotating around its own axis and at the same time rotating around the larger circumference of a stationary central disc member which guides the small cutter, said machine bein relatively simple in construction and requiring a minimum amount of power for operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a lawn-mower employing the cutting mechanism of this invention. v

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the lawnmower of Figure 1, shown partly in cross-section.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the lawn- 0 mower of Figure 1, a portion thereof being broken away to show internal details of the structure.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration the cutting mechanism of this invention is shown applied to a lawn-mower, ll designates a horizontal body member supported in spaced position above the ground for movement parallel thereto by three wheels 9, it and I2 appropriately journalled to said body member. Body member H is formed with a peripheral flange l3 extending downwardly around said body member and defining a cavity under the body member. Rigidly secured in said cavity to the under surface of the body member is a bracket member M which carries rigidly secured thereto a large horizontal disc member l5. Concentric with said disc member IS a vertical bore is provided in bracket member l4 and through body member II in which is rotatively positioned a shaft Hi, the upper end of which carries a worm gear I! which is supported by a suitable bearing for rotation with respect to body member ii. Worm gear I1 is operatively engaged by a worm member I8 rotative'ly supported in horizontal position on body member ll, said worm element I8 2 and :worm gear I being contained a housing is through which the end of the worm extends. "The end .of the worm shaft :carniesa pulley 25 which is sconpled by a belt 2i :to a mrliey 2.2 carried on the shatt of :a power which be ,a asoline engine or the like.

Secured to the lower end of vertical Shit-12.45 is an arm 24. To the end of cum '24 rotatiaely secured a vertical shafit 2,5 the [upper (end of which is secured a friction wheel .25 which fricrtional-ly eng es disc 15 .at its peripheryfor roll.- ii'ig contact therewith. .The lower end. of shaft 25 carries a.cut tcr Wheel 2]- .Shaft 2.51 i lflilfid with a bearing collar 2'8 for rotative'ly support ing the shaft on arm 25. Supported from arm 25 by brackets 30, 30 and rigid therewith is a shear disc 29 positioned beneath and coaxial with rotary cutter wheel 21, shear disc 29 being of the same diameter as cutter wheel 21 and having teeth disposed adjacent to the teeth of wheel 21 to provide relatively stationary shearing edges with respect to the teeth of the rotary cutter wheel. v

Guard flange I3 of body member I l terminates immediately above and adjacent to the shearing teeth of rotary cutter wheel 21 and shear disc 29 and the forward portion of body member H is substantially semi-circular corresponding to the arcuate path defined by the rotating outer teeth of the shear discs 21 and 29 at the forward portion of the device.

In operation, power unit 23 transmits torque to vertical shaft I6 through belt 2| and worm elements l8 and I1. Arm 24 is rotated by shaft l6, causing friction wheel 26 to roll around the periphery of stationary disc [5. This rotates shaft 25 and cutter wheel 21 and simultaneously moves the cutter wheel 21 and its adjacent shear disc 29 in a circular path around shaft "5. The

relatively rotating teeth of cutter wheel 21 and shear disc 29 shear oii upstanding material encountered thereby such as grass, as they move around their planetary path, and as the mechanism is moved forwardly it cuts a path equal in width to the external diameter of the orbital path of the rotating cutter discs 21 and 29. v

In applications of the invention where the upstanding material to be cut is sumciently rigid to be properly supported in the path 01' the rotary V cutter teeth the shear disc 29 may be omitted.

In the above disclosed specific embodiment employed for grass cutting, the shear disc may be positioned above the rotary cutter disc instead :11! below within the contemplation of the mven- Although specifically described herein in connection with a lawn-mower device, the mechanism is adapted for various other applications such as hedge trimmers, surface planers, floor sanders or any other application where a large surface area is to be cut or surfaced. The mechanism of this invention requires a smaller amount of power for the area cut as compared with conventional cutting mechanisms turning about a single axis. In addition, there is a substantial saving in weight as compared with solid circular discs rotatin around a single axis for cutting a path of equal width. The reduction in weight reduces the amount of power required to start the cutting action and to keep the cutting elements rotating at required cutting speed. This permits the employment of a lighter and less expensive power unit and supporting framework for the machine. The reduction in weight provides increased portability and permits the machine to be more easily handled and moved about.

In view of the cutting action close to the forward periphery of the machine, a lawn mower as disclosed herein can mow closer to fences, buildings and other obstructions than conventional mowers, and can cut grass, weeds or other vegetationof any height.

Although a specific embodiment of a planetary cutting mechanism has been disclosed in the i'oreso going description, it will be understood that {various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A lawn-mower comprising a wheeled carriage having a. horizontal body portion, a disc member rigidly secured to the under surface of said body portion, a first vertical shaft rotatively supported with respect to said body portion and extending axially of said disc member, an arm carried by said first shaft extending adjacent the periphery of said disc member, a second vertical shaft rotatively carried by said arm, said second shaft having a friction wheel engaging said periphery in rolling contact therewith, a first horizontal toothed cutter wheel carried by said second shaft, a second horizontal toothed wheel of substantially the same diameter as said first cutter wheel rigidly'secured to said arm and positioned coaxially with and adjacent to said first cutter wheel, and power means for rotating said firstvertical shaft, said power means being mounted on said horizontal body portion. WILLIAM B. HAYS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in-the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 112,338 Hamish et a1. Mar. '7, 1871 795,082 Warner July 18, 1905 1,701,723 Lyons Feb. 12, 1929 1,817,314 Hohn Aug. 4, 1931 2,194,617 Scott Mar. 26,1940 

